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L. A. LANPHER.

GAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1918.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

[caller/4104M WITNESSES ATTOR NEY LEONARD A. LANPHER, 0F MARATHON, NEW YORK.

GAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' I G Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

Application filed March 11, 1918. Serial No. 221,805.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LEONARD A. LANIHER, citizen of the United States, residing at Marathon, in the county of Cortland and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a game and has for its principal object the construction of a game which is simple to understand and play, although fascinating and pleasing when in use.

One object of this invention is the production of a game wherein the playing field is disclosed having a goal at each end thereof,

each goal being guarded by a certain number of moving elements, known as .men, one set of men endeavoring to reach the opponents goal to win the game.

Another object of this invention is the production of a game wherein the playing field board, whereby the goals will be positioned at the. apices a nd in direct alinement between the two contending parties, and owing to the rectangular construction of the playing field, thus causing the territory ad aCent the goal to be easily guarded.

Another object of this invention is the production of a game wherein the construction of the device is simple, thus minimizing the cost of production of the same.

Broadly stated, the invention consists of a board upon which the playing field is arranged, the playing field being rectangularly positioned to be diagonal of the board upon which the same is formed, thus causing the apices to be in alinement with the player at each end of the board, the playing field being divided into geometrical alternately arranged squares, men positioned upon the field and adapted to move forwardly or to either side and being adapted to jump each other until a man of the opposing force reaches the goal at the end of the playing field, thus winning the game, the limited space nearer to the goal causing a smaller force adjacent the goal to more easily guard the same, although the space intermediate the ends of the field is broadto allow easy movement where such movement does not menace the goals.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions and arrangement of is positioned diagonally upon the parts as will be hereinafter fullydescribed and claimed.

One practical form of construction and Fig. 2 1s a central transverse sectiofi through the game board in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of one of the playing pieces, and

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of another ing piece, illustrating that the game are of different colors.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, it will be noted that the playing board consists of a primary section 1 and an auxiliary section 2. The primary section 1 consists of a board 3, while the ai xiliary section consists of a board 4. The boards 3 and l are surrounded adjacent their edges by strips 5, as illustrated clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. together by means p ypieces of a flexible strip 6 secured in any suitable manner to a pair of the strips 5, whereby the two sections of the game board may be swung to a closed or open position as desired.

The board 4 is provided with instructions as indicated at 7, which may be printed or otherwise carried upon the board, thus enabling the proper playing of the game.

The playing field 8 is printed, pasted or otherwise formed upon the board 3 of the primary section 1 of the playing board.'

This playing field is rectangular, as will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 1 and is composed of a plurality of geometrically formed squares. The dark squares 9 and the light squares 10 are positioned in alternate fashion upon the playing field 8 and it will be noted that the squares are arranged to bepositioned in lines with respect to their diagonal axis either longitudinal or transverse of the board 3.

Particular attention is-invited to the fact that at two apices of the rectangular playing field there are provided goals 11. ()wing to the fact that the playing field 8 is positioned in a diagonal manner upon the board 3, these goals 11 will be positioned in direct alinement with the. two persons playing the game and the board will be directly therebetween.

of the game, show ng the game board in an open positlon The boards are connected As illustrated in Figs. 3 and -l, playing pieces known as men. are indicated at 12 and 1?). These playing pieces are of di'f ferent colors, as will also be seen by refer-f ring to Figs. 2:3 and at and it is obvious that these playing pieces may be of any desired shape or size.

In playing the game, the game pieces or men of one force are positioned upon the three transverse lines of dark squares adjacent one goal, while the men of the opposing force are positioned upon like lines adjacent the remaining goal. Therefore, it will be seen that three lines of the longest or greatest number of dark spaces are positioned between the two forces when the play is commenced. The men may be moved forwardly toward the opposite goal, but they cannot move backwardly. However, they can be moved to either side or trans verse to the playing field, as long as they move along the dark spaces 9. The men can jump each other, similar to the manner in which checkers are played, thus removing the opponents forces wherever possible. Finally, is successful in reaching the goal 11 of the remaining force, the force to which the successful man belongs wins the game.

Attention is invited to the fact that as the playing field is positioned diagonally upon the supporting board and the'goals are positioned in a pair of the apices of the rectangular playing field. the goals will be directly between the two opponents playing the game. Furthermore, as the side portions of the playing field converge toward each goal, it will be seen that the entire sides of the rectangular frame are cared for. Attention is therefore invited to the fact that where the playing is relatively unimportant, at the center of the playing field, the field is comparatively broad and since the men can move to either side, it is obvious they may move to prevent jumping or being captured, or to move to a more advantageous position to move toward the goal. However, since the side portions of theplaying field converge toward the goals, when a player moves toward one goal when the man of one force in a direct line he must necessarily move down into a restricted area of play. Accordingly, only a very few men are necessary to guard this area to prevent the opponents force from successfully reaching the goal, while the main body of men or the greater portion of the entire force may move out into the open playingfield to reduce the number of men of the opponent.

By this construction the goals may be easily guarded by a minimum number of men, which would not be possible if the goal were formed at any other place along the playing field.

As only one form of the present invention has been herein described and illustrated, it is obvious that many modifications ot' the same may be eli'iployed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as long as such changes do not exceed the scope of the invention as claimed.

\Vhat is claimed is A game apparatus, comprising a rectangular board, having a playing field formed thereon, said playing field being of rectangular construction and having sides of equal lengths which unite at their ends with each other, and forming a single apex at each corner of the field, said playing field consisting of two series of differently shaded and alternately arranged squares, squares being diagonally arranged upon the board, so that lines intersecting the corners of the squares will extend transversely and longitudinally of the board, said field having goals in alinement at opposite apices at the ends of the playing field, and two series of playing piecesmovable upon one series of squares whereby movement of the pieces will be directly transversely or longitud i nally of the board, while the apices at the sides of the playing field allow of easy cornering at these positions of the playing field.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture in presence of twowitnesses.

LEONARD A." LANPHER. lVitnesses NELLIE M. DALTON, ALBERT A. MCALPINE.

said 

